Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford [CD]

Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford is the debut album from a five-man group set up by cellist Ben Davis and BBC Jazz Award winner Seb Rochford. Though the band have been playing together for some time, a recorded project has been a long time coming, though luckily it’s worth the wait. Both Davis and Rochford are classically trained, but draw on non-classical compositional styles such as jazz and freeform music. Featuring a slew of original tunes plus several re-interpretations, Basquiat Strings moves slickly through a host of different sounds, from the angular "Double Dares" and the driving "Junk," - both fine examples of both the band’s immaculate playing and Davis’ superb writing skills. The ‘covers’ here are equally penetrative: Wayne Shorter’s "Infant Eyes," Zawinul’s "In a Silent Way" and Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" emerge as virtually new tracks, scattered and embellished with not just jazz and classical references but also folk elements from Macedonia and Hungary. Not one for the jazz or classical purists perhaps, but Basquiat Strings will provide oodles of stimulation for just about everyone else. --Paul Sullivan

Ben Davis' stated aim is to make 'alternative string music that people want to listen to'. His group, Basquiat Strings, started life as a standard string quartet (two violins, a viola and a cello). Only later did cellist Davis decide to add double bass 'to strengthen the rhythmic accompaniment', and listening to the raucous, propulsive motion driving many of these compositions it's understandable why he went a step further and asked drummer Seb Rochford to join the band for the group's debut recording.

As a regular guest in Rochford's Polar Bear it would be easy to assume, when listening to tracks like ''Forceful Beast'', that some of Seb's rhythmic invention has rubbed off on Davis. But I suspect it's more the case that the two musicians share some of the same sources of inspiration. There are strains of Mingus here, as well as perhaps a smattering of Shostakovich, and fans of Julius Hemphill's brilliant early 70's bass-less records such as Dogon A.D. and The Hard Blues may also recognise hints of the inspired, under-rated cellist Abdul Wadud.

Alongside the jazz and the classical influences, there are also folk elements including Macedonian tapan rhythms and Hungarian processional marches. Three standards receive the Davis treatment, which are sufficiently distinctive that the term reassessment is perhaps more apt than arrangement. Wayne Shorter's ''Infant Eyes'' becomes a chilling meditation on the uncertainty of childhood and Ornette Coleman's ''Lonely Woman'' depicts a degree of desolation perhaps only an all-string ensemble can achieve.

The rest of the album is comprised of finely-honed originals giving the impression this document has been a long time in the making. ''How Do Birds Hear Music'' is a joyful workout with passages of tight unison alongside sections of spirited improvisation, ending with a fantastically resonant dirge where the drums drop out entirely.

Basquiat Strings is not a pure jazz album but it does present a cohesive vision. And a very listenable one at that. --Joby Waldman

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The Basquiat Strings, set up by Ben Davis, is a flexible string group which specialises in modern jazz and related music. The group has been involved in the recording projects of Juliet Roberts, The Harper Project, MC Ty, Julia Biel and Border Crossing. On this recording they team up with the amazing Seb Rochford. Tracks: Double Dares / Bobette / Forceful Beast / Infant Eyes / How Do Birds Hear Music / Lonely Woman / Junk / In A Silent Way / Jaci, Jo And Joseph.